Author's note: Sorry for the delay but I am a freshman and my college just started so it's just hectic. However...Please read and tell me if I should continue it or not.

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY THING ASSOCIATED WITH HIM AND HIS WORLD.

The News

The door was unexpectedly open and they stepped inside cautiously. Inside it was generally dark except for the lamps which were burning at the patient's bed side. They both squinted around for Harry's bed and their gaze fell upon a bed wrapped in all coverings.

"That must be Harry," Ron contemplated and they both moved towards it. They both silently approached it and opened the hangings. Harry was sleeping peacefully as if he had just been born. There were gashes around on his young face and couple of bruises were staggered on his neck and chest. Hermione made a movement to wake him up but Ron held her back, shaking his head. Hermione nodded and sat down on the bed besides Harry without stirring him. Ron however stood by her looking concernedly at him. They sat there in silence with Hermione brushing Harry's fringes of his forehead occasionally. A tear escaped her eyes but she didn't shrug it off.

Ron however was feeling very guilty and foolish for himself. Harry was the only best friend he ever had and Ron had treated him unfairly. He never wanted this fame, these trials. He was so helpless in the face of his fate and yet Ron always held him responsible for the attention he got.

"Poor Harry, he has to face so much," Hermione squeaked breaking Ron's thoughts. Ron nodded and stared back at his friend, sleeping soundly.

"I am such a git. I don't deserve friends like Harry and you," Ron slammed his foot angrily at the bedside table earning a pain in his toe. Hermione stood up and gave him a very confused expression.

"Ron what's the...." Hermione started but Ron cut in.

"I have always been jealous of both of you. Always had an ill feeling for both of you," Ron whispered hoarsely. "I have always tried to fit in but never succeeded. First in my family, then in my friends."

"Ron, what are you saying?" Hermione looked at him in disbelief.

"What I'm saying is the truth. I have always known as the youngest son of the Weasley's or the Friend of Harry Potter," Ron said with a lemon in his voice.

"Ron shut up. I know you as Ron Weasley, my friend. The Gryffindor keeper, the best chess player and a little hot headed," Hermione said sternly. "You may consider yourself as a nobody but let me tell you that you gave a supporting hand to Harry and me all these years and to tell you the truth if it hadn't been for you I wouldn't have befriended you."

Ron sighed in disbelief when Hermione finished. Then Hermione walked up to him and placed her arms around him and gave him a warm hug. Ron felt he needed this and hugged her back. This was a very different embrace Ron was sharing right now. They both hung perfectly together. Ron was feeling extra hot and he could sense the heat coming from Hermione too.

They soon broke apart not from their own consent but the bang from the opening of the door and scurrying of a lot of feet.

"Come," Ron whispered to Hermione and urgently spread the cloak over them selves and backed away in the corner.

The feet belonged to three people all which the late adventurers feared to meet at this hour.

It was Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape who had similar countenances supported on their faces of deep fear and worry. They raced towards Harry's bed and stooped over him blocking Ron and Hermione's view of Harry. Both were curious of what was happening and their curiosity was answered as soon as Dumbledore spoke.

"Severus is right; Harry's life energy is fading."

Everything turned mute. Everything thing paused for Ron and presumably Hermione. This can't be true. Harry can't be....... It was indigestible. Ron's mind went blank, he couldn't feel anything except Hermione completely breaking down and clutching his chest for support. Ron, unable to stand on his feet, slided down against the wall staring at the bustling crowd before him with glossy eyes. Hermione also followed in suit and they both sat there crying on the prospect of the non existence of their friend who was the glue which kept them together. Kept the trio together. Without him there would be no trio....there would be nothing. Their lives would be devasted, incomplete. Their lives without Harry...

sniff